Whirling toy



W. M. SIRKS WHIRLING TOY Nov. 28, 1961 Filed Dec. 4, 1958 INVENTOR.

WALTER M. SIRKS United States Patent Ofitice 3,010,249 Patented Nov. 28,1961 3,010,249 WHIRLING TOY Walter M. Sirks, 6038 W. 85th Place, LosAngeles 45, Calif. Filed Dec. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 778,229 2 Claims. (CI.46-52) The present invention consists of a whirling toy including atleast two longitudinal independently movable pendulum portions (in onepreferred form, of different overall lengths) adapted to be adjacentlyefiectively manually held, either looped over a finger operating thewhirling toy or held by a manually graspable handle means, duringsimultaneous and oppositely directed centrifugal swinging rotation ofeach of the independently movable pendulum portions in adjacentplanesthis opposite rotation of each of the pendulum portions beingadapted to be maintained by slight intermittent movement of a hand of aperson effectively holding the pendulum portions.

In one specific form of the present invention, the whirling toy is alsoadapted to intermittently produce an audible sound, thus greatly addingto the interest factor of the toy when used by a child.

It will be recognized that the above-indicated features of the whirlingtoy of the present invention make it well adapted for use as a toyinvolving a very considerable degree of skill in the operation thereofin a manner somewhat analogous to a prior art toy known as a Yo-yo, thusgreatly adding to the interest factor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a whirling toy ofthe character indicated above, having two independently rotatablependulum portions adapted to be controllably manually rotated inopposite directions in adjacent planes and to be maintained in astate'of such continuous rotation by slight intermittent movement of ahand of a person effectively holding the pendulum portions.

It: is a further object of the present invention to provide a whirlingtoy of the type set forth in the preceding object, which is furtheradapted to intermittently produce an audible sound by reason of the factthat either or both of the pendulum'portions may carry adjacent theoppositely whirling ends thereof pendulum body means including a hollowsound-producing element having sound- ;producing slot means at one sidethereof extending thereinto in the general manner'described hereinafterand also in accordance with the teachings and disclosures set forth inmy co-pending US. patent application, Serial No. 778,222, filed December4, 1958, any of which sound- .producing elements may be, and areintended to be, interchangeable with the specific sound-producingelement specifically disclosed in the drawing and specification of thisapplication.

Further objects will .be apparent to persons'skilled in the art after acareful study hereof.

For the purpose 'of clarifying the nature of my inven the invention,with central portions of the flexible longitudinal tensile membersremoved in order to reduce the size of the drawing.

FIG- 2 is a reduced-size perspective view illustrating the operation ofthe form of the invention shown in FIG.

. 1 in a manner whereby the two flexible longitudinal pendu- .held bythe hand 12 of a person operating the lum portions are effectivelymanually held and simultaneously oppositely rotated in adjacent planes.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the elastomeric orrubber element shown in FIG. 1 as comprising the manually graspablehandle means.

FIG. 4 is a reduced-size elevational view of a slightly modified form ofthe invention wherein the manually graspable handle means is eliminatedand a connected looped portion of the two pendulum portions acts as thefunctional equivalent of the handle means of FIGS. l-3 and is adapted tobe looped over and thus held by a finger of a person operating thewhirling toy. Also, in this modification, the two pendulum body means ofFIG. 1 are modified so that each takes the form of a hollowsound-producing element adapted to intermittently produce an audiblesound when whirled in the general manner of the first form of theinvention, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a larger-scale longitudinal sectional view of one of thesound-producing elements shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is avperspective view of one of the sound-producing elements ofthe type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but slightly modified by the additionof an external encircling means and trailing edge adapted to modify thesound produced by the sound-producing element.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6 but shows the externalencircling means modified by completely eliminating the trailing edge.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of manuallygraspable handle means.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating another slightly modified formof-handle means.

The whirling toy of the present invention includes'twolongitudinalindependently movable pendulum portions, such as areindicated generally at 10 and 11 in FIGS. 1 and 2, adapted to beeffectively manually held during simultaneous and oppositely directedcentrifugal swinging rotation of the pendulum portions 10 and 11 inadjacent planes in the general manner indicated inFIG. 2, which state ofrotation is adapted to'be easily maintained by slight intermittentmovement of a hand, such as the hand 12, ofa person effectivelyadjacently holding the pendulum portions 10 and 11.

In the specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,

each of the pendulum portions 10 and 11 consists of a flexiblelongitudinal tensile member 13 and 14, respectively, each having aholding part indicated at 15 and 16, respectively, which is adapted tobe effectively manually to in the manner indicated in FIG. 2. y

In the specific example illustrated in'FIGS. 1 and 2, the hand 12 of theperson operating the whirling toy effectively manually holds the holdingparts 15 and- 16 of the flexible longitudinal tensile members 13 and =14by means of manually graspable handle means, such as is indicatedgenerally at 17, which intthe specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1,2, and 3 (best seen in FIG. 3) comprises, an elastomeric or rubbermember 18 having a longitudinal aperture 19 extending therethrough andthrough which the holding parts 15 aud.,16 of the longitudinaltensilemembers 13 and 14 extend andareknotted as are indicated at 36 foreffective fastening with respect to the handle means 17. a

Also, each of the independently movable pendulum portions 10 and 11includes pendulum body means, such as are indicated at 22 and 23,respectively, carried by the free or connection end parts 20 and 21,respectively,

of' each of the flexible longitudinal tensile members 13 and 14,respectively. In the specific example illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, each ofthe pendulum body means 22 and 23 comprises two end-to-end alignedlongitudinally apertured elastomeric or rubber members similar to themember 18 clearly shown in longitudinal cross section in FIG. 3, withthe connection end parts 20 and 21, respectively, extendedlongitudinally through the longitudinal aper- V tures and with retainingknots 24 and 25 positioned at opposite ends of the pendulum body means22 and with similar retaining knots 26 and 27 positioned at oppositeends of the other pendulum body means 23, whereby to firmly fix each ofthe pendulum body means 22 and 23, respectively, on the correspondingconnection ends 20 and 21, respectively, of the correspondinglongitudinal tensile members 13 and 14, respectively.

It should be noted that in the specific form illustrated in FIGS. 1-3,the pendulum portion 10 is longer than the pendulum portion 11 wherebyoperation of the device in the general manner indicated in FIG. 2, byoppositely directed swinging rotation of each of the pendulum portions10 and 11 in the directions indicated by the arrows in' FIG. 2, will notcause the pendulum body means 22 and 23 to strike each other and stopthe continuous operation of the whirling toy. It will be understood thata slight intermittent movement of the hand 12 of a person holding thehandle means 17 will cause the oppositely directed rotation of the twopendulum portions '10 and 11, in the manner shown in FIG. 2, to becontinuously maintained.

FIGS. 4 and illustrate a modified form wherein the handle means 17 ofFIGS. 1-3 is eliminated and the functional equivalent thereof isprovided by means of a portion 17A of flexible tensile materialeffectively joining' together" the holding parts 15A and 16A of each ofthe flexible longitudinal tensile members 13A and 14A so that theportion 17A may be looped over, and thus held by, the finger of a personoperating the toy in the'general manner of .FIG. 2. It is thoughtunnecessary to illustrate the operation of this modification since it isevident from careful examination of FIGS. 2 and 4.

Furthermore, in this modified form of the invention, the pendulum bodymeans indicated generally at 22A and 23A, respectively, each takes theform of a hollow soundproducing element 28 defining a hollow interiorchamber 29. Furthermore, each of the hollow sound-producing elements 28includes a portion defining sound-producing aperture means into thehollow chamber. In the specific example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,said soundproducing aperture means consists of a longitudinal slot 30extending along one side of the hollow sound-producing element 28 andcommunicating with the hollow chamber 29 therein.- It will be noted thatin the specific example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the hollowsound-producing elements is formed of a longitudinal cylindrical sectionof a tube which'is closed at each end by plug means 31 and which iswrapped aroun'd each of the plugs 31 so as to efiectively define theslot 31). The plugs 31 are effectively joined tothe metallic tube bysuitable adhesive fastening means such as is indicated at 32 in FIG. 5.This may comprise a rubber b ase paint, 7 cement, or the like, or anyequivalentmeans for fastening the end plugs 31 in position withcorresponding ends 1 of the flexible longitudinal tensile members'13A or14A 7 etfectively fastened in one of the plugs 31 by retaining knotmeans positioned inside of an aperture 33 through the plug31, thuseffectively mounting both of thefhollow sound-producing elements 28 withrespect to the ;connection ends'20A and'21A, respectively, of thelongitudinal tensile members 13A and 14A, respectively. 7

It will readily beunderstood that when the .two soundproducing elements28 are rotated in opposite directions in the general manner of thependulum body means 22 and 23 in .FIG. 2, theirapid relative movement ofeach. 7 of the sound-producing elements 28 and sound-producing slots 30with respect to ambient atmosphere will cause each of thesound-producing elements 28 to intermittently fill with and dischargeair and produce an intermittent or interrupted audible sound in thegeneral manner explained more fully in my co-pending patent application,Serial No. 778,222, filed' December 4, 1959. Furthermore, it should beunderstood that the soundproducing elements 28 may be substituted forthe pendulum body means 22 and 23 in FIG. 2, if desired.

FIG. 6 illustrates a slight modification of the invention wherein thesound produced by each of the sound-producing elements, one of which isindicated at 28B, may be modified as to frequency, type ofinterruptions, and/ or pitch by adding to the sound-producingelement 28Ban external encircling means, such as that indicated at 34, whicheffectively reduces the overall open length of the sound-producing slot30B. In the specific example illustrated, the element 34 takes the formof a piece of flexible tape or the like adhesively fastened onto thetube 28B adjacent the lower end thereof and having a'small-trailingportion 35 which has an efiect upon the rotary motion and positioning ofthe sound-producing slot with respect to ambient atmosphere duringswinging motion thereof, whereby to alter the interruption rate bystopping all sound at certain intervals by reason of the changedorientation of the sound-producing slot 303 with respect to thedirection of swinging movement of the sound-producing element 2813. Theeffective shortening of the slot 308 also alters the pitch of theemitted sound.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in fragmentary form, a very slight modification ofthe form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, and similar portions areindicated by the same reference numerals followed by the letter C. Inthis modification, the encircling means 340 does not have a flutteringtrailing edge similar to that shown at 35 in FIG. 6 and, therefore, nodirectional guiding effect during swinging movement of thesound-producing element 28C occurs in this modification of theinvention.

FIG. -8 illustrates a slight modificationof the handle means 17 shown inFIGS. 1-3, which is indicated by the reference numeral 17D. Thismodified handle means 17D comprises a conventional type handle which maybe made of wood, plastic, or any other suitable material adapted to bemanually grasped during oppositely directed rotative operation of thewhirling toy of the present invention in the manner described above.

FIG. 9 illustrates another slight modification of the handlemeans 17shown in FIGS. 1-3, which is indicated by the reference numeral 17E inFIG. 9. This modified handle means 17E comprises an elastomeric,apertured member similar to' the member 18 shown in FIG. '3, which hasknots 36E at each end thereof in a slightly off-center position similarto the oil-center location of the handle means 17 shown in FIGS. 1 and2, andwhich is adapted to be looped over and grasped by a single fingerin a manner similar to the grasping of the portion 17A shown in FIG. 4and described hereinbefore. It will be noted that the handle 17E in thismodification clearly marks the proper off-center position whereas theportion 17A shownin FIG. 4 has to be carefully selected Whenever thedevice is used, since thereis no such' marker.

the purpose of illustrating. the present invention and are not to beconstrued as limitingthelpresentfinvention to the precise and detailedspecific structure shownin thc figures and specifically describedhereinbeforeg Rathcr, the real invention isintended to includesubstantially 1 equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachingsand inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim; 1. A whirling and intermittent sound-produfling toyincludingiat least two longitudinal independently movable 'pendulumportions adapted to he adjacently efiectively manually "held duringsimultaneous and oppositelyfdi- It should be understood that the figuresand the specific description thereof set forth in'ithis application arefor rected centrifugal swinging rotation of said pendulum portions inadjacent planes, which is adapted to be maintained by slightintermittent movement of a hand of a person effectively holding saidpendulum portions, and wherein each pendulum portion comprises: aflexible longitudinal tensile member having a holding part adapted to beeffectively manually held and having longitudinally spaced therefrom afree connection end part provided with pendulum body means mountedthereon for rotation around an axis coincident with said free connectionend part and said flexible longitudinal tensile member, said pendulumbody means including a hollow longitudinal sound-producing elementdefining a longitudinal hollow interior chamber therein, saidsound-producing element consisting of a longitudinal cylindrical sectionof a tube substantially closed at each end, said element being providedwith a portion defining sound-producing longitudinal slot means intosaid hollow chamber along at least a portion of the length thereof; andexternal encircling means effectively reducing the overall open lengthof the portion of the sound-producing element defining thesound-producing slot positioned at one end thereof.

2. A toy of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said encirclingmeans is provided with an extension comprising means modifying theefiect of rapid relative movement of ambient atmosphere upon thesound-producing element during whirling motion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS157,095 Hawk Nov. 24, 1874 477,904 Lawson June 28, 1892 610,600 DavisSept. 13, 1898 1,800,778 Carson Apr. 14, 1931 1,932,943 Smith Oct. 31,1933 2,125,815 Rowell Aug. 2, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,092 Great Britain1889 383,955 France Ian. 22, 1908 416,853 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1934259,487 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1949 1,109,355 France Sept. 21, 1955

